There is no trapping season in the State of Minnesota for wolves, but unfortunately a wolf is sometimes caught in a trap intended for another animal. That was the case on Friday, October 21 when not one, but two, wolves were caught in foothold traps set for fox or coyote in the Pike Lake area. A St. Michael, MN man vacationing at a nearby cabin, discovered the animals. The wolves were on opposite sides of a forest road.
Law Enforcement learned of the trapped wolves at 2:43 p.m. on Friday and contacted Minnesota Conservation Officers Mary Manning and Darin Fagerman. Fagerman wrote in his weekly Conservation Officer report that he and Manning released “one cooperative wolf and one uncooperative wolf.”
CO Manning was reached by phone and she concurred. “One was definitely more submissive than the other,” she said.
Although most people would be intimidated at the thought of releasing an unhappy wolf from a trap, Manning said it isn’t “too bad” with two people. She said by the time the COs arrived, the wolves were “not relaxed, but not too active either.”
Manning said the COs used a very long stick to pin down each wolf. As one officer kept the wolf still, the other released the trap.
The wolves seemed to be unharmed. Manning said the smaller animal didn’t immediately run off, but eventually did run and seemed to be physically okay. The other wolf, which growled and snapped at the COs as they were releasing it, took off so quickly the COs were unable to ascertain if it had any injuries, but they believed it was fine.
Manning said it is not uncommon to unintentionally trap a wolf in a trap, but it is not that often that the COs learn about it. Trappers are required to check their trap lines daily and if they catch a wolf, they release it themselves. Fortunately the traps used in this incident were not conabear traps but foothold traps. Manning said the foothold traps hold the animal tightly but not so tightly as to cause injury.
Manning said the public should contact the COs if they encounter a trapped wolf and not try to remove it themselves.
She reminded forest visitors to keep their dogs on a leash, especially during trapping season. Manning said she understands that hunting dogs are different and she suggested that anyone hunting with dogs do a little research on how to release a trap, just in case. “Even your own dog might bite you, if it is caught in a trap,” she said. “Knowing how to take a trap off safely is important.”
And finally, Manning reminded people not to tamper with traps. Most traps are legal. If you have concerns about traps or trappers, contact Cook County Law Enforcement at (218) 387-3030 to contact a conservation officer.
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